WEDNESDAY JULY 9 CONTENTS
(1) EDITORIAL: Reading Vladimir Putin’s Mind
(2) EDITORIAL: Russia Through the Looking Glass
(3) Another Original LR Translation: Lonely Russia
(4) Aron on the Putin Implosion
(5) Russia is being Rejected Across Post-Soviet Space
(6) Wimbledon Wrapup: More Russian Humiliation
NOTE: In a thrilling development we’ve already reported, Barack Obama launched an indirect attack on Putin’s authority by giving an interview to firebrand opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta which was published on the first day of his talks with the Kremlin this week, and announcing he will meet with Boris Nemtsov and Garry Kasparov. At the same time, he’s launched a direct assault on Putin’s authority, publicly saying he’s obsolete and an anachronism and indicating he will circumvent Putin with appeals to Medvedev and the people of Russia. Bravo, Mr. President. Now we want to see you carry this diplomacy through into actual policy.
NOTE: Today we offer the work of two careful Russia scholars, Aron and Shevtsova, the latter translated by Dave Essel from the Russian press, exposing the failure of Putin’s domestic and foreign policy. These come as a perfect bulwark for the barrage of editorials we launched at Putin in our last issue.
8 responses so far ↓
Robert // July 6, 2009 at 4:47 pm |
Meanwhile, more direct “direct assaults on Putin’s authority”:
An unusually large number of attacks have roiled the North Caucasus in recent weeks, including a bloody ambush Saturday that killed at least nine Chechen police officers in Ingushetia, raising new fears that the situation is spiraling out of control in the restive region.
(…)
After the attack on Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov on June 22, President Dmitry Medvedev authorized Kadyrov to dispatch law enforcement officers into Ingushetia to quell the insurgency there.
A Chechen police convoy was traveling toward the Arshty settlement in Ingushetia’s Sunzha district at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday when gunmen opened fire with grenade launchers and automatic weapons, killing nine and injuring 10, the Investigative Committee said. The officers were traveling from Chechnya to Ingushetia on a joint counterterrorism operation, it said.
(…)
Insurgents took responsibility for the attack. The rebel web site Kavkaz Center reported Sunday that 48 policemen had been killed in the attack and 14 others were wounded. The report could not be independently confirmed. The web site is known for inflating casualty figures, while the government has minimized its casualties in the past.
(…)
Kadyrov declared Saturday a day of mourning in Chechnya and ordered all entertainment events canceled.
Adam Delimkhanov, who represents Chechnya in the State Duma and is wanted by Dubai on an Interpol warrant for the murder of a rival of Kadyrov, said there would be “no mercy” for “the bandits.”
(…)
At least 19 people were killed or injured in other attacks in Ingushetia, Dagestan and Chechnya since Wednesday, news reports said. Among them:
• An unidentified gunman opened fire at traffic police near the village of Shamkhal in Dagestan on Wednesday, killing one policeman at the scene and injuring another, who later died in hospital.
• A sapper was killed when two bombs went off at the railroad near the village of Uytash in Dagestan on Wednesday.
• Three bombs exploded in various places of the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya, killing two soldiers and injuring five others Thursday.
• In the Ingush village of Kantyshevo, a shootout between two rebels and a group of police officers killed one policeman and left four injured Thursday.
• Three policemen were injured in the roadside explosion of a radio-controlled bomb and hospitalized in the Dagestani town of Khasavyurt on Friday.
(…)
The surge in attacks could also possibly be a result of the reduced financial support of the republics by the federal authorities because of the financial crisis, Silayev said.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/1010/42/379301.htm
Robert // July 6, 2009 at 5:02 pm |
Also today:
Policeman injured in shooting incident in Ingushetia (Interfax)
Chechen police caught in mine blast in Russia’s Ingushetia (RIA Novosti)
Russian serviceman wounded in Chechnya helicopter attack (RIA Novosti)
(among others)
probablyabogusname // July 7, 2009 at 3:29 pm |
RE: Alleged Putin-Obama “summit”.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090707/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama
Obama said: there won’t be “a meeting of the minds anytime soon.”
You know what this means, LR? It means that you have been on your knees crawling and begging to Obama to save Russia from Putin
and you are ignored by “Mr. President”.
Who is the woman with the spear on your banner? You know, the one slaying the dragon.
Is that supposed to be YOU, LR?
Maybe a new banner should be installed with the woman shining Mr. President’s shoes?
You write such comedy LR!!
And stop referring to your opponents as “apes”.
It is a well-known fact that some russian women
dream about copulating monkeys and dogs because they smell better than russian men.
Your constant mention of apes only testifies to
this fact and you know it.
And this time be CONSTRUCTIVE and SKILLFUL when you insult me as
I do not accept second-class insults.
Oh, I forgot— Have a Nice Day.
Adrian // July 7, 2009 at 10:52 pm |
I’m very happy abut this. It’s a major slapdown for the Kremlin…
penny // July 8, 2009 at 1:26 am |
July 7 (Bloomberg) — U.S. President Barack Obama lauded Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for his service to Russia, continuing a three-day push to overcome the animosities of the George W. Bush era.
“I am aware of not only the extraordinary work you have done on behalf of the Russian people in your previous role as prime minister — as president — but in your current role as prime minister,” Obama told Putin after more than an hour of talks at the premier’s residence near Moscow.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=al7IO7sebEWA
Anymore evidence needed that Obama is an idiot.
mlp // July 8, 2009 at 2:32 am |
Penny that stupid quote is being ridiculously overplayed. If you watch a videoclip of it it is quite clear that this is just one of those rote things world leaders say upon meeting. Far far more important and relevant is the amazing speech he gave to the New Economic School (which the U.S. media considers far less interesting than Michael Jackson) in which he really poured crap on the Kremlin’s view of the world. Read the full text of it here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/REMARKS-BY-THE-PRESIDENT-AT-THE-NEW-ECONOMIC-SCHOOL-GRADUATION/
penny // July 8, 2009 at 3:00 am |
Realizing just what damage Putin has done to Russia, sorry, a better crafted public displomatic greeting was in order. You can bet those words wouldn’t have been chosen if Obama visited Venezuela or Iran.
It was gratuitously stupid on Obama’s part.
mlp // July 8, 2009 at 2:38 pm |
Perhaps so, but one comment is not a whole picture. Nemtsov has heaped praise on Obama’s overall performance and that is far more relevant.